Close Your Eyes
Stacey Kent · 1997
54 min · 11 tracks · jazz
Smooth jazz melodies intertwine with intimate vocals, creating a dreamy and romantic soundscape throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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More Than You Know — This opening track sets the tone for the album, featuring Kent's delicate phrasing over lush instrumentation that highlights her vocal agility.
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You Go to My Head — Kent's rendition of this classic showcases her emotional depth, as she navigates complex melodies with a subtle yet powerful interpretation.
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It's Delovely — With its upbeat tempo and playful lyrics, this track exemplifies Kent's charm and ability to infuse joy into timeless compositions.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong compositions and skilled performances, creating a cohesive listening experience in smooth jazz.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of smooth jazz instrumentation, with gentle piano and soft brass arrangements supporting the vocals.
- Each track maintains a relaxed tempo, with several songs featuring extended instrumental sections that allow for improvisation.
- Vocals are often layered harmonically, creating a lush sound that blends seamlessly with the instrumental backdrop.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate storytelling through vocals
- soothing evening relaxation
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- for quiet reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy excitement
- prefer standalone tracks only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Close Your Eyes is Stacey Kent's third studio album, released in 1997 following her breakthrough with the album, The Tender Trap. By this time, Kent was establishing herself as a prominent voice in contemporary jazz, gaining international recognition for her unique style and vocal delivery.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cassandra Wilson· Diana Krall· Madeleine Peyroux
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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There's No You
The poignant shift in perspective reveals a deep sense of longing as the singer confronts absence directly.
This moment contrasts earlier verses by moving from nostalgia to a raw acknowledgment of loss, intensifying the emotional impact.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 More Than You Know 5:36
- 2 Dream Dancing 4:23
- 3 Close Your Eyes 5:24
- 4 There's a Lull in My Life 4:26
- 5 It's Delovely 3:25
- 6 There's No You 6:14
- 7 I'm Old Fashioned 2:59
- 8 You Go to My Head 7:01
- 9 Little White Lies 4:17
- 10 Sleep Warm 4:37
- 11 Day In Day Out 5:46
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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